Christine "Chris" (Hilliard) Wilson, 91, entered the loving arms of Jesus on Thursday, October 17, 2024, in Newton, Kansas, surrounded by family. She was at peace and ready to go home to her Lord.

Chris was born to Perley and Jessie (Parker) Hilliard in Quincy, Massachusetts, on November 18, 1932. Her youthful summers were spent with family at Martha's Vineyard where she often went to the beach, rode bikes with her brothers and sisters, and enjoyed time at Hilliard's Kitch-In-View, the family candy store.

After high school, Chris came to Kansas to attend Ottawa University and obtain her bachelor's degree. One college summer, she worked with a Baptist missionary group in Nevada, teaching vacation bible school. After some time spent traveling after college, Chris decided to go to Denver, Colorado, where she worked at Mercy Hospital doing electrocardiograms. One evening in Denver, she met the love of her life, Eugene Wilson. Excited to start their new lives together, they were married five months later, on August 2, 1957. They went on to have five children and cared for numerous foster children. The family made time to spend 23 summer vacations returning to Martha's Vineyard so Chris could enjoy Hilliard's chocolates and time with family.

In addition to being a dedicated and loving mother, Chris was an active minister's wife at the 15 churches Gene served. Throughout her life, Chris held an unwavering faith in God, which she shared with those around her. She took particular joy in attending women's bible studies, helping with youth groups, and attending annual summer retreats with other minister wives.

She was preceded in death by parents Perley and Jessie Hilliard; siblings Douglas Hilliard, Ruth Hilliard, Elizabeth Stacy, Phil Hilliard, and Allen Hilliard; and infant son Joel Alexander Wilson.

She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Eugene Wilson; sons Loren Wilson, Roger (Darlene) Wilson, and Chuck Wilson, and daughter Candace (Tom) Perkins; grandchildren Garrett (Lauren) Wilson, Andrea (Jeffrey) Anderson, Stuart Wilson, Amanda (Steven) Colgrove, Madeline (Chadron) Koehn, Bjorn Perkins, Ian Perkins, Grace Wilson, Marcus Perkins, and Dayton Wilson; great-grandchildren Kinsley Anderson, Adelaide Wilson, Greer Wilson, Atleigh Anderson, Sven Colgrove and Savannah Colgrove; and sister Dorcas Brown.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, at Milton United Methodist Church in Suppesville, Kansas.

Memorials can be made directly to the Milton United Methodist Church.